A FAMILY of fundraisers have been left feeling "angry and violated" after thieves targeted their high value bicycles.
Burglars cut through padlocks and bolts to get into the Alvaston garage of Steve Baker and rips the bikes, worth more than £2,000 from the walls where they were locked.
Mr Baker, his daughter Clare and her partner Wez Saunders were riding them every day as they trained for their latest charity ride from Derby to Skegness in June.
Now they believe they will not receive their insurance money in time to buy replacement cycles for the ride, which see's 160 Derby people raise cash for local charities.
Ms Baker, of Baker Street, Alvaston, said: "We feel completely violated by this.
"We are angry and sad that someone has clearly targeted us like this.
"We think whoever has done this knows the value of the bikes and has been watching us go out each day because they specifically targeted these bikes and left older, less valuable ones that they didn't want."
Ms Baker, 27, is a business performance analyst at Interfleet Technology in Pride Park, while Mr Saunders, also 27, works as a postman in the city.
Mr Baker, 51, works for Rolls-Royce in Sinfin.
The break-in happened at Mr Baker's home in Frederick Street, Alvaston, overnight between 8pm on Tuesday and 7am yesterday when he woke to see the garage damaged and the bikes missing.
Mr Baker said: "The power to the security light was cut and they have used bolt-croppers to cut through the garage padlock.
"Inside the garage the bikes were bolted to the walls and they have cut through them to get the ones they wanted.
"It has made us so angry that this has happened."
The bikes that were stolen were Ms Baker's white B-Twin racing bike, which has her name on the frame; Mr Saunders' Focus racing bike in blue and Mr Baker's black Verenti Rhigos bike.
The trio have been training for their latest ride, which is due to see riders leave Derby and arrive in Skegness on June 14.
The group, called AR&O Bikers, are raising money for the Nightingale Macmillan Unit at the Derby Royal Hospital and Rainbow's Children's Hospice in Loughborough.
Ms Baker said: "We are not sure if the insurance company will pay out in time so we can have replacements for our ride.
"I don't think these thieves understand that to make money for themselves they've taken money from other people's lives and these charities are going to miss out on sponsorship if we cannot get these bikes back."
Detectives are looking into the break-in and urging anyone who may have been offered the distinctive racing bikes at a cheap price to get in contact.
A force spokesman said: "The crime was reported to us around 7.30am yesterday morning and took place between 8pm on Tuesday and this time.
"The bracket was cut off the garage to gain entry and bikes have been pulled from the wall which they were bolted to."
Anyone with information should call police on 101.
